Abstract

Background: 11.5% of women are diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD) within the first few months after delivery, and 50% go untreated. Effective and accessible treatment options for PPD are greatly needed to improve the health of the postpartum community.

Purpose: The purpose of the Move and Mingle project was to implement an evidence-based PPD program using yoga and group social support therapy in a weekly class format over six weeks to significantly reduce the symptoms of postpartum depression.

Methods: The program offered a weekly, six session combined yoga and social support therapy class to postpartum women diagnosed with PPD. Sample: 5 women began the program, and 4 completed the pre and post intervention Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score.

Results: Participant scores on the EPDS scale before and after the Move and Mingle intervention improved an average of 7.25 points. Using an alpha level of .05, the EPDS score changes were statistically significant (p = .03684).

Conclusions: The results demonstrate the effectiveness of yoga and group therapy on the improvement of mental health in postpartum women suffering from PPD. Providers are encouraged to utilize the intervention for their patients in the community.

Author Details

Lisa Stevens, RN, BSN, DNPc and Kari Wade EdD, MSN, RN, CNE

Sigma Membership

Theta Tau

Lead Author Affiliation

Nebraska Methodist College, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Clinical Practice Guideline(s)

Research Approach

Pilot/Exploratory Study

Keywords:

Postpartum depression, Yoga, exercise, Group social support

Advisor

Wade, Kari

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Nebraska Methodist College

Degree Year

2019

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Faculty Approved: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

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